Machine for making spiral springs



March"29 1932. J. F; mu. 0

MACHINE FQR MAKING SPIRAL \SPRINGS Filed May 15, 1930 16 Sheets-Sheet 1 fizvezzi" Jim ffiazZ March 29,1932. J, F GNL 1,851,540

momma FOR MAKING SPIRAL SPRINGS Filed May 15 1950 16 Sheets-Sheet 2.

5 aqua March 29,1932. 4F; GN 135L540 MACHINE FOR MAKING SPIRAL SPRINGS Filed May 15, 193g 1 Shag t 5 fr wez zzf 5721? Gail March 29, 1932. 'J. F. AIL I 1,851,540

MACHINE FOR MAKING SPIRAL SPRINGS Fil ed May 15, 1930 16Sheets-Sheet 4 [22/62257 Jl FGQZZ March 29, 1932. J. F. GAIL 1,851,540

IACHINE FOR MAKING SPIRAL SPRINGS Filed May 15, 19:50 I 1-6 Sheets-Sheet 5 c mumm vununnnun' "In-"nun".

March 29, 1932. ,F,. A|L 1,851,540

IACHIRE FOR MAKING SPIRAL SPR INGS Filed May 15,, 19:50 16 Sheets-Sheet 6 lACHiNE FOR MAKING SPIRAL SPRINGS 'Filed May 15, 1930 1e Sheets-Sheet 7 o o o o March 29, 1932. v .1. F. GAIL 1, Y

I'AGHINE F011 MAKING SPIRAL smmms Filed May 15, 1930 1s sh ts-sheet 8 March 29, 1932. F, GML 1,851,540 I MACHINE FOR MAKING SPIRAL SPRINGS Filed 15, 1930 16 Sheets-{Sheet 9 Pkg a ,/0/ [j v March 29, 1932. J. GA|| 1,851,540

IACHINE FOR MAKING SPIRAL SPRINGS led'May 15,1930 l6 Sheets-Sheet 10 March 29, 1932,- J. F. GAIL CHINE FOR MAKING SPIRAL SPRINGS Filed May '15, 1950 16 Sheets-Sheet 11 March 29, 1932. J A 1,851,540

IACHINE FbRMAKIN G SPIRAL SPRINGS Filed May 15, 1930 1e Sheets-Slieet 12 [HZ/67220,? Y kfafizz [Fail March 29, 1932. J GA\Y|Y 1,851,540

MACHINE FOR MAKING SPI RAL SPRINGS Filed May 15, 1930 1e Sheets-Sheet 13 March 29, 1932.

J. F. GAIL MACHINE FOR MAKING SPIRAL SPRINGS 16 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed May 15, 1950 March 29, 1932. J GAlL 1,851,540

MACHINE FOR MAKING SPIRAL S'PRINGS Filed May 15, 1930 16 Sheets-Sheet 15 fizz/6 0/" March 29, 1932. J; GAIL MACHINE FOR MAKING SPIRAL SPRINGS Filed May 15, 1930 16 Sheets-Sheet l6 Patented Mar. 29, 193 2- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. GAiIL, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR '10 SIMMONS COMPANYpOF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE I MACHINE FOR MA KING SPIRAL SPRINGS v Application filed Kay 15, 1930. Serial No. 452,547.

This invention relates to a machine for making spiral sprin s, and more particularly to a machine for mafiing spiral springs, knotiing or tying .both ends thereof, sizing the same and finally nesting the same for conveyed through the machine; to provide an arrangement of mechanism which will lend it.- self to compactness and simplicity of the structure as a whole; to rovide a machine of the type referred to WhlCh will be rapid and eflicient in operation, durable, and not likely to get out of working order; and in general, it is the objectof my invention to provide an im8roved machine of the class described.

ther objects and advantages of my invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated a machine for makin lmotting both ends thereof, sizing and nesting the same, the disclosedmachine constituting a selected structural embodiment of my invention. 3 There are 16.sheets of drawings in which Fig 1 is a plan.

ig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the left hand end of Figs. 1 and'2.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fi 4. Fig. 6 is a section on'the line 6-6 of igs. 2 and16. 1

Fig. 7 is a more or less dia rammatic side elevation illustrating the re ative arrangement of the various stages of operation.

lpartofthe mechanism shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 8 is a detail moreclearly illustrating a Fig. 9 is a more or less diagrammaticplan corresponding to Fig. 7.

spiral springs, tying or.

.10 is a more or less diagrammatic representation of one stage in the course of travel of a spring through the machine. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary end elevation as indicated by the line 11-11 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view through one of the devices for conveying the springs from one of the operating devices to another.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged elevation of a part of the spring ctnveying means, certain parts being broken away and illustrated in section to more clearly illustrate the construction thereof.

-Fig. 14 is F ig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a section Fig. 13.

a section on the line 14-14. of

on the line 15-15 of Fig. 16 is a section on the line 16-16 of Fig. 1.

.Fig. 17 is a detail-illustration of one of the operating cams shown in part in Fig. 16. I Fig. 18 is a section on the line 18-18 of i 2. i,

igf19 is a section on the line 19-19 of -Fi .4.

ig. 20 is a detail illustration of one of the operating cams shown in part in Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a section similar to Fig. 19 but :howmg certain parts in a changed posi- Figs. 22 and 23 are sections on the lines 22-22 and 23-23 respectively of Fig.- 21.

Fl-g. 24: is an illustration similar to a part of Fig. 22 but showing the relative position of certain parts upon completion of a tying or knotting operation.

Fig. 25 is a section on the line 25-25 of Fig. 4, certain parts being omitted to clarify the illustration.

Figs. 26. and 27 are rear views of certain' parts shown in Fig. 25, and

Fig. 28 is a section on the line 28-28 of Fig. 4. t General description Referring now to the drawings and more particularlyto Figs. 1 and 2,'my improved machine includes a wire coiling mechanism indicated generall at- A, this mechanism being preferably o T the type. disclosed in' my aforesaid patent. Briefly described, the wire coiling mechanism includes wire straighten- 7 ing rolls or the like indicatedat 35 through which spring wire 36 passes to be straightened. The wire 36 is guided by suitable guides 37 through cooperating upper and lower feed roll pairs 38 and 39 respectively which are actuated to intermittently advance the wire to form the s rings. The wire is directed against a coi ing block 40 which bends the wire into coil form and apitch block 41 is provided for controlling the spacing or pitch of the coils. A cut-oflt' device indicated at 42 is provided for severing the completed spiral spring from the 'wire' supply during theintervals in which the feed rolls 38 and 39 are made inoperative to advance the wire. a The coiling mechanism thusfar described is "in all material respects the same as that shown in my said prior patent and the oper-' ating mechanism may also be the same, Hence, further detailed description of the coiling mechanism is deemed unnecessary in this description. However, I have added to the coiling mechanism of my prior patent, a shield indicated at 43 for preventing accidental entanglement of the last formed portion of each coil spring with the adjacent mechanism of the colling machine or withthe adjacent portion of the wire stock which is being directed against the coiler block. This shield 43 may conveniently be mounted on the pitch block 41 as clearly shown in Fig.4.

The coiling mechanism may be driven from a main power shaft 44 to which power is transmitted by a belt driven pulley .45 and suitable clutch mechanism indicated at 46 (see Fig. 3). g A coil spring formed by the coil mechanism A is indicated at S1, this reference char -acter also denoting the first position of a spring in my improved machine. Conveying mechanism-indicated generally at B is procoiling mechanism to the other mechanisms. The knotting mechanismin the presentinstance includes a pair-of knotting devices indicated'at C and D respectively, these devices being respectively operable to tie or knot the opposite ends of-the springs formed bythe coiling mechanism. Upon completion of the second knotting operation, the springsare conveyed from the second knotter D to a sizing mechanism E which is located at the entrance to a spring receptacle F in which the\ completed and sized springs are nested so that large quantities o the springs occupy a minimum of space and may be conveniently handled and stored for future use.

The conveying mechanism The conveying mechanism B includes. an elongated carnage or rider 5O whlch 1n crossa section is more or less I-shaped as clearly in- 'is keyed to a main power shaft 58. The main vided for carrying the springs formed by the ley 72 and is connected to the right hand'end dicated in Fig. 15 and provided with outwardlyextendin flanges 51--51 on its opp'osite sides where y the carriage isislidably mounted on a pair of supporting rails or bars J 52-52. The supporting rails 5252 are mounted at one end on bracket 53 which is supported by the frame of the coiling mechanism A. Theopposite ends of the rails 52-52 are supported by "means of brackets such asindicated at 54 and 55, the" latter being mounted on conveniently accessible stationary parts of the main frame work of the knbtting and sizing mechanism. The said main frame work is designated by the reference charac-. ter 56. The carriage 50 is slidable longitudinally along the rails 5252 and cam actuated means is provided forefi'ecting reciprocation of the carriage along the said rails. This actuating means includes a cam 57 which power shaft 58 extends transversely of the knotting mechanism and is mounted in suitable bearings provided in the supporting frame work of the machine as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The cam 57 acts'on the free end of a bell crank arm 59 to rock the bell crank about its pivot 60, the said free-end of the arm being provided with an anti-friction roller 61. The other arm of the bell crank is indicated at 62 and has its free end connected by means of a chain 63 to the left hand end of the carriage. The chain 63 is adjustably. connected to the free end of the bell crank arm 62 by any suitable means such as indicated in Fig. 7 and it extends upwardly to a roller 64 over which it passes as clearly shown 1n Figs. 2 and 7. At the left hand end of the machine, the chain 63 passes around a roller 65 as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The adjacent end of the chain is connected to the left hand end of thecar riage by means of an attaching bracket 66 or the like. When the carriage 50 is in its right hand position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the bell crank arm 62 is in an up-position as shown inFig. 2. The cam 57 9 is then operative to'efl'ect downward movement of the arm 62 and consequent movement of the carriage towards the left hand end of the mechanism.

Similar mechanism is provided for moving the carriage towards the right and this mechanism includes a bell-crank 67 which is piv- .otally mounted on the pivot rod-60. One

arm 68 of the bell crank 67 is adapted to be actuated .by a cam 69 and the other arm 70 of the bell crank is connected by means of a chain 71 to the right hand end of the carriage. The chain 71 extends upwardly from the outer end of the bell crank arm 70 and over a pulof the carriage by means of .a connecting bracket or the like indicated M7 3 (see Fig.

1- When the carriage is in its left hand po-" s1t1on as represented in Fig. 7, the bell. crank 67 1s substantially in the. position ,as indi- 13o be provided for eliminating wear and cated in Figs. 7 and S and the cam 69 is then operative to swing the bell crank so as to cause the outer end of-the arm 70 thereof to move downwardly, thereby pulling the carriage to the right. The cams 57 and 69 are, of course, arranged in properly synchronized relation to effect reciprocation of the carriage in proper relation tolthe operation of the spring coil-. in", knotting and sizing devices.

The carriage 50 is provided with three springgripping. units in this instance, one of which is indicated at G1, a second at G2 and a third at G3. The gripper G1 serves to convey springs from the co l mechanism to the first knotter C, the gripper G2 for conveying springs from the first knotter C to the second knotter D and the gripper G3 for conveying springs from the second knotter D to the sizing mechanism E. The respective gripping devices are substantially thesame construction except that the second gripper G2 is arranged to rotate 180 degrees during its travel from the first knotter to the second knotter soas to reverse the spring carried thereby, whereby the end left unknotted by the knotter C is presented to the knotter D, it being observed that bothknotters are arranged in line on the same side of the path of travel of the spring. Y

l The spring grippers Describing first the gripper G2, reference is directed particularly to Figs. 1,13 and 14. By reference to the said figures, it will be seen that the grip er G2 includes a sleevelike member 75 which extends through and is rotatablymounted in the carriage 5Q, a'suitable aperturedboss being provided therein for receiving the sleeve.- A bushing76 may 1nsuring smooth operation .pf the mechanism. The sleeve 75 is provided. with an internal or inwardly-extending flange 77 adjacent ts lower end and the lower endof the sleeve outwardl of the carriage is bifurcated so as to orm ears78-78. As' seen in Fig. 13, the ears 78-78 serve to pivotally receive a pair of spring gri jaws being pivotal y mounted between the opposite ears by means of pivot ins 80-80 whereby the jaws are adapted to ivotal- 1y moved towards and away from eac other.

The jaws 79-79 may be of one-piece construction but I prefer; to provide two-piece structures which includearcuate jaw parts proper 81-81 and arm parts 82-82, the latter being pivoted between, the opposite ears 78-78 and having the arcuate jaws 81 removably' secured thereto; for instance, by 50 means of boltsasclearly .shown in Fig. 13. Replacement of the arcuate jaws 81-81 in the. event of breakage, wear orr other. difliculties, includin change in spring size to be handled, is rea 11y accomplished. I

For effecting pivotal movement of j aws as above explained, an actuating member 83 in the form of a rod is slidably mounted in a bearing 0 ening provided in the flange 77 adjacent t e lower end of the sleeve 75, the upper end of the actuating member-being slidably mountedain asuitable bearin opening provided in a cap member 84 wiich is mounted on the upper end of the sleeve by means of screw threaded engagement as clearly shown in Fig. 15. The lower end of 76 the actuating member 83 is provided with. oppositely facing sets of gear teethas'indicated at 85-85 whichconstitute racks adapted to engage with gear segments 86-86 formed integral with the jaw arms 82-82. It will be seen that by reciprocation of the actuating member 83, the jaws will be caused to close and open. A spring 87 is disposed around the actuating member 83 inside of the sleeve 7 5 and intermediate'the internal flange 77 and a collar 88 which is secured to the actuating member by suitable meanssuch as a taper pin 89'. In order to permit insertion and removal of the taper pin 89, the sleeve'7 5 may be provided with oppositely 90 disposed openings as clearly shown in Fig. 15. The spring 87 normally tends to move the actuating member 83 upwardlyand thereby to swing the gripping jaws into closed osition as shown in Figs. 13 and 15.. Means or mov- 05 ing the actuating member 83 downwardlg to open the jaws Wlll subsequently be descri ed For rotating the gripper G2 during its travel from the knotter C to the knotter D,

I provide gear mechanism which includes a gear segment 89 keyed or otherwise non-rotatably mounted on the sleeve 75. The ear segment 89 meshes with a pinion 90 w ich I is carried by a gear 91, the latter being rotatabl mounted on. the carriage 50 by means .105

of as aft bolt 92. The gear 91 is arranged to mesh with a rack 92w ich-is mounted on one of the side rails 52. The rack is mounted so as to be longitudinally fixed with respect to the travel of the carriage 50 but so as to be displaceable transversely of the car I ria e. The means-for so mounting the rack v 92 mcludes amounting bracket 93 which-is pivotally mounted adjacent its ends as shown,

at 94-94 on the side rail 52. Intermediatdllb its' ends,a spring device 95. is provided for normally urgin the bracket 93'and'rack92 to move inwar l'y of the carriage 50' intomesh with the gear 91. Under normal 'conditions, the gear 91 and rack 92 reinain in mesh and hence inward movement of the rack I under the influence of the-s ring.9 5 is lim-. ited. In the event that su cient resistance- 1s ofiered to prevent rotation of the ipper G2, the s ring 95 will permit the rac r 92,to

be force outwardly out of mesh with the gear 91-,thereby preventing possible breaka' e ,7 or other damage to certain parts of the mec anism f The grippers G1 and G3 maybeof sub-' a structure.

I stantially the same construction as above described 1n connection with the gripper G2,

but inasmuch as these grippers need not be rotated, the gear mechanism for effecting such rotation may conveniently be eliminated, thereby somewhat sim lifying. the

The arrangement 0 the non-rotatable rippers isfclearly shown in Fig. 12

where .t e carriage 50 is provided wit an elongated boss 96 to occupy the space taken up by the gear 89 in the rot-atable'gripper construction. Any suitable means may be availed of for preventing rotar displacement of the grippers G1 and 3, for instance. by making the sleeve (part 75 a tight fit in the bushing 76, by provi ing key means, (not shown) or by causing the cap part 84 to act as a clamping nut against the top of the bushing 76 soas to draw the enlarged, bifurcated end of the sleeve into tight engagement with the bottom of the carriage 50;

The ggz'pper jaw opening and closing mechanism The mechanism for effecting operation of the actuating member 83 and gripper jaws 7 979 includes a rock lever 97,which is pivoted at one end as indicated at 98 to the free end of a link 99, the other end of'which is pivotally mounted as indicated at 100 on the carriage 50. The free end of the rock arm 97 is provided with a ball headed stud 101 which is adjustably mounted in the enlarged end portion of the rock arm 97 as clearly shown in Figs. 13 and 15. The ball end of the stud 101 engages a socket 102' provided in the upper end of the actuating member 83, the said socket being formed, in'this instance, in a suitable hard metal block 103 which is recessedinto the actuating member 83 and seated on shoulders provided in the latter as clearly shown in Fig. 15. g

The rock arm'97 is connected to the end 104 of a lever 105- by means of a link 106 which is 'pivotally connected to the said lever end 104 at one end and at its other end to the rock arm 97 intermediate the ends of the latter. The lever 105 is pivoted intermediate its ends as indicated at 107 to the carriage 50 andis provided with a bifurcated end portion 108;' As shown in Fig. 14, the arm or lever 105 and lever end portion 104 are, in fact, separate arm members which .are secured to a shaft 107, the latter being rotat ably mounted on the carriage 50. This construction is, of course, desirable in that it facilitates construction but it will be noted.

1 that the effect of this separate arm construction is that of awlever pivoted intermediate its ends as above referred to."

-By referenceto Figs. 1, 2, and 7, it will .be seen that each of the grippers G1, G2 and G3 provided with the above described actuating lever and arm mechanism. The grippers are allactuated in unison so that the jaws are simultaneously crossed around a spring and simultaneously opened. For this purpose. the bifurcated ends 1080f the lever arms 105 are connected by means of a bar or link 109 which fitsbetween the bifurcations of the respective arms and is pivoted there-'- to. It will be seen that .b moving the bar or link 109,t0' the right rom the position shown in Fig. 7, each of the rock arms 97 will be caused to rock in a clockwise direction about their intermediate pivotal connections with the links 106, thereby depressing the actuating members'83. Byreference to Fig. 7

13, it will be seen that downward movement of the actuating member 83 is effective to which is pivoted intermediate its ends on the I pivot shaft 60. The cam engaging end of the rock lever i's provided with an anti-friction roll 112 (Fig. 2) and the opposite end of the rock lever 111 is connected by means .of a chain 113 to the right hand endof the bar 109, the said chain extending upwardly andv 'over a pulley or roller 114 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 115, the latter being supported by the bracket 53.

The cam 110 is designed and synchronized with the other cams of the machine'so that the gripper jaws are opened when the car riagc. is in its extreme left hand position and after the springs carried by the grippers have been delivered to the knotters or sizing device. l Vhen the carriage is in its right hand position, the cam and arm mechanism 1l0 111- operates to close the grippers so as to take hold of the springs preparatory to advancing the springs .through the machine. The cam is further designed to permit the chain 113 to travel in unison-with the carriage to the right or to the left without effecting 'movement of the jaw actuating mechanism untll. the carnage reaches its respective spring receiving (1 spring deliVeringpOSitions. 7 I

The spring knotters U and D The spring knotters C and D are of substantially identical construction and are also substantially the same as the spring knotting mechanism fully'illustrated and described in my :said'prior Patent No. 1,681,728. Inasmuch as I now make no claim to the knotter construction per se, a detailed description of 

